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Occupational Therapy
Home Options
Occupational Therapists
guiding housing, supports
and assistive technology choices.
SPECIALIST DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION (SDA)
PRESENTATION
COMING SOON
A free presentation sponsored by Accessibility Plus and presented by
Jo-Anne Bennett, Occupational Therapist and SDA consultant, OT Home Options.
Jo-Anne would like to share the best ideas and features she has seen in SDA dwellings over the years, room by room.
Jo-Anne Bennett: Your SDA Solution
OT Home Options is an independent Occupational Therapy provider supporting NDIS participants and their networks with housing, support recommendations and assistive technology solutions founded by Jo-Anne Bennett.
OT Home Options represents 35 years+ of working in the disability sector and 7 years specifically focused on Specialist Disability Accommodation.
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As a mother of four (now adult) children, I greatly value a safe and secure home and understand the importance of location to be both connected to local services and connected socially.
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As an OT, I’ve worked in every environment from preschools, special schools, clinics, hospitals, shared homes, supported employment, day programmes and rehab facilities with every age group and disability type. This has taught me a lot about the influence of that the physical environment and assistive technologies can have to facilitate people to be productive, enjoy leisure and to be as independent as possible.
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I have known many of my clients for multiple years and I feel privileged to be trusted to understand the important things that make a huge difference in their lives. I have demonstrated my commitment of supporting individuals and families along their housing journey over the long term by stepping through each step of the housing journey with them until they have settled in a more suitable home. I have learnt so much from each individual and family group which drives me to keep creating positive changes for them.
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I have family and friends in the architecture, access consulting and the building industry and we share our learnings of specialised housing regularly. I’ve studied home modifications and access regulations and am a founding member and supported of the SDA Alliance where I have worked closely with like-minded professionals all striving to create great SDA housing and support solutions.
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My life and work experiences have enabled me to develop a unique skill set that is making an impact with the creation of SDA homes to enable people to live their best lives.
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Currently, I’m working with participants and their support networks from all across Australia and consulting to SDA providers who are really listening to the market research I have gathered and applying that knowledge to provide customized housing solutions.
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My passion is to support individuals to create an ideal housing and support model for themselves and then work together to realize that goal.
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I acknowledge it’s a complicated journey with many barriers and I am committed to walking beside people and their support networks to make the process clearer, easier and ultimately to create a very significant change in their lives to living in an enabling home.
There is great satisfaction for all when the housing eligibility approval aligns with the vision, when:
an SDA provider customizes a home to suit the participants needs, when a participant creates their own housing solution, and when families move into their new accessible home together and start achieving the goals that started the process.
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I look forward to meeting with you and your support team and working together where-ever you are on your housing and supports journey.
Services offered for:
1. NDIS participants and informal networks (Family, Friends, Carers):
Let's start with a discussion - no formal assessments or screeners. I can read relevant reports you have already collated, listen to your ideal scenario and figure out together the next steps to take.
We can talk to the people who know you best: your family and friends, medical and allied health teams to get a united approach forward on your housing and support goals.
Together we can explore all the options and apply for what you need.
Sometimes you need someone to double check things and advocate for you.
2. SDA providers and networks
(Access consultants, Architects, Building teams):
By working therapeutically with participants, I can help SDA providers interpret what needs to be consider in design for the individuals you are supporting. I can assist with materials and products for your FFE schedules and assist you to deliver a high-quality home that will reduce your vacancy risk or be underutilized.
I can help your tenants ensure that they have the right eligibility approval for their scenario.
The NDIS commission is working towards full separation of SDA and SIL. There are many policy changes that providers need to make. I can help you work through these and get the balance right.
3. Colleagues: [Support Co-Ordinators, Occupational Therapists, Supported Independent Living Providers (SIL)]
Having also worked as a complex care Case Manager, I have the experience to connect participants to high quality trustworthy providers.
As a therapist, I will work alongside the existing team and assist and co-consult as part of the existing team.
I can assist SIL providers with transition, manual handling training, equipment trials and ensure the SIL providers needs are met in the process.